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When damage occurs to your home, cleaning up the mess will be one of your main goals. While responding quickly to the issues will be important, follow the correct sequence of actions to ensure that you don't cause more problems. First Steps Before you proceed with any fire restoration work, contact your insurance company to have them assess the damage. A professional contractor can also help you assess the damage and provide you with an estimate for cleaning. It's also important to receive permission to reenter your home from your local municipality. Depending on the severity of the devastation, the interior of your house may not be safe. Toxins can hang thickly in the air inside the house, necessitating that people wear protective gear over noses and mouths to prevent inhalation of toxins. Smoke and Fire Damage Fire restoration after smoke and fire involves careful assessment of the devastation. Wipe down the chrome and other metal on fixtures with a damp cloth to remove all soot. Once you finish removing the film of soot, apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly to protect the surfaces. Brush vacuum soot from carpets, window coverings, and upholstery. Pour antifreeze into standing water, such as toilet bowls and water tanks, to prevent damage from freezing if your heat is turned off. Hire a contractor to install wood coverings over any openings into your home, including the roof, windows, and doorways. Water Damage Significant water damage can occur after a home fire emergency, from burst pipes, malfunctioning appliances, precipitation from the outdoors, and water from firefighters. Fire restoration efforts should include ventilating wet areas to dry them as quickly as possible. During the summer, use fans and air conditioning for ventilation. During the winter, alternate opening windows and running the furnace for ventilation. Remove any standing water by mopping or sponging up the excess moisture. Remove saturated carpeting and rugs. Remove electronics and electric appliances. Open drawers and cabinets to increase air circulation. What Not to Do Avoid in-depth cleaning of textiles in your home, including carpeting and upholstery. Soot and smoke residues are typically oily, requiring special cleaning processes to remove them from fabrics. Attempting to clean these surfaces could result in more problems. Do not attempt to operate electronic devices in a wet house due to the risk of electric shock. Remove the electronics devices and allow them to dry out completely before plugging them in. Do not wipe down walls and ceilings to remove soot, because smoke likely absorbed into these surfaces. A special cleaning process will be necessary to clean these areas. Do not prepare or consume any food items, including canned goods, that were exposed to excessive heat. Although a home emergency of this sort can be devastating and overwhelming, a quality fire restoration expert can help guide you through the process of assessing the issues and restoring your home. With the proper care of details, you can minimize the damage that has already occurred and work to resolve it. When looking for professional fire restoration, Grand Rapids, MI residents visit VanDam & Krusinga Building and Restoration. Learn more about our services at http://www.vk1call.com.
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